Residents urge Locust Valley board to withdraw from lawsuit; community group seeks softball field dedication

Two public commenters addressed the board near the meeting’s end: one proposed a field dedication to honor a longtime coach, and another urged the board to withdraw from recent litigation.

John Johnson, representing Falcon Pride, presented a letter (on behalf of Nadine Pacifico and Marybeth Miller) requesting that the Locust Valley High School girls’ softball field and dugout be formally dedicated to coach Cindy Tobin in recognition of her more than three decades of service as a teacher and coach. Johnson said the proposal was prepared thoughtfully and that Falcon Pride stands ready to collaborate with the athletic department and the named proposers to implement a plaque or sign honoring Tobin’s legacy.

Later in the public‑comment period resident Carrie Lam urged the board to withdraw from a federal lawsuit the district joined on Dec. 17, 2025, which she said names the New York State Attorney General, the State Commissioner of Education and parents of a child from the Massapequa School District. "I respectfully ask the board to withdraw from this lawsuit and to refocus its time, energy, and financial resources on serving the students and families of Locust Valley," Lam told trustees, adding that the increase in legal spending over the past two years was "striking." Lam said she believed the litigation diverts taxpayer resources and is inconsistent with district priorities.

The board did not announce a response during the public comment segment; the comments were recorded as part of the meeting’s public‑comment period.